Legal Definition and Related Resources of Alternat
Meaning of Alternat
A usage among diplomatist by which the rank and places of different powers, who have the same right and pretentions to precedence, are changed from time to time, either in a certain regular order, or one determined by lot. In drawing up treaties and conventions, for example, it is the usage of certain powers to alternate, both in the preamble and the signatures, so that each power occupies, in the copy intended to be delivered to it, the first place. Wheat. Int. Law, pt. 2, c 3, § 4.
What does Alternat mean in American Law?
The definition of Alternat in the law of the United States, as defined by the lexicographer Arthur Leff in his legal dictionary is:
A practice of diplomatic protocol worked out to cope with situations in which several persons (e.g., representatives of sovereign nations) have equal right to symbolic primacy (e.g., in order of entering a room, sitting at a table, or signing a document), but it is impossible simultaneously to give each of them equal position. Thus, if no round table is available, and someone thus has to sit at the head, seating might be rotated from time to time. Or, since a treaty cannot be signed first by everyone, it might be set up such that each signatory signs at least one copy first, usually the one he gets to take home.
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You might be interested in these references tools:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Alternat in the Dictionary | Alternat in our legal dictionaries | Browse the Legal Thesaurus | Find synonyms and related words of Alternat |
| Legal Maxims | Maxims are established principles that jurists use as interpretive tools, invoked more frequently in international law |
| Legal Answers (Q&A) | A community-driven knowledge creation process, of enduring value to a broad audience |
| Related topics | Alternat in the World Encyclopedia of Law |
Notice
This definition of Alternat Is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary . This entry needs to be proofread.
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| https://legaldictionary.lawin.org/alternat/ | The URI of Alternat (more about URIs) |
Alternat in Diplomatic Law
Alternat
When an agreement is signed between two states, or among several states, each signatory keeps an official copy for itself. Alternat refers to the principle which provides that a state’s own name will be listed ahead of the other signatory, or signatories, in its own official copy. It is a practice devised centuries ago to handle sensitivities over precedence.
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See Also
Further Reading
- Satow’s Diplomatic Practice, Ivor Roberts
- Modern Diplomacy, R.P. Barnston
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